A demonstration in Atlantic City, the site of the 1964 Democratic Convention. FREEDOM SUMMER airs on PBS tonight. Photo credit: George Ballis/Take Stock.
MFF 2014’s FREEDOM SUMMER directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson airs TONIGHT (6/24) on PBS’ American Experience at 9pm.
“…it’s hard to imagine two hours better spent in front of a screen.”
–Mike Hale, The New York Times, 6/23/14. Click here for the complete review.
–Mike Hale, The New York Times, 6/23/14. Click here for the complete review.
Film Synopsis from the MFF 2014 Program Book:
In 1962, only 6% of eligible African Americans in Mississippi were registered to vote, the lowest percentage of any state in the country. The tools used to block blacks from registering included ludicrous poll tests, violence, and other forms of sanctioned intimidation. Several Civil Rights groups determined to correct this, and, led by an extraordinary young man, Robert Moses they went to work. By 1964, they had recruited hundreds of college students from as far away as Yale and Stanford, along with religious leaders and other volunteers. They joined forces with brave local sharecroppers like Fannie Lou Hamer with the goal of educating and registering enough people to begin to challenge Mississippi and wake up the national Democratic Party leadership. Mississippi resisted with all its might, beating, arresting, and killing anyone advocating change.
In 1962, only 6% of eligible African Americans in Mississippi were registered to vote, the lowest percentage of any state in the country. The tools used to block blacks from registering included ludicrous poll tests, violence, and other forms of sanctioned intimidation. Several Civil Rights groups determined to correct this, and, led by an extraordinary young man, Robert Moses they went to work. By 1964, they had recruited hundreds of college students from as far away as Yale and Stanford, along with religious leaders and other volunteers. They joined forces with brave local sharecroppers like Fannie Lou Hamer with the goal of educating and registering enough people to begin to challenge Mississippi and wake up the national Democratic Party leadership. Mississippi resisted with all its might, beating, arresting, and killing anyone advocating change.
The story has been told in multiple forms, but this riveting film by one of our most important filmmakers has an unusual power. Assembling incredible archival footage and insightful contemporary interviews with some people who participated in Freedom Summer, the film takes you deep into the world of institutional racism in 1964 Mississippi, and shockingly underscores the timidity of President Johnson and the Democratic Party.
Approaching the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, and in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to reverse field in the area of voting rights, this is a story that needs to be understood—and never forgotten.
Maryland Film Festival Director Jed Dietz is onsite in Park City, UT at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival reporting back highlights from the ground. Stay tuned for updates on the MFF blog, and make sure to check out his live radio appearance with 88.1FM WYPR’s Tom Hall on Friday 1/24.
I’m one day and five films in. The picture to the right is of Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Stanley Nelson, (JONESTOWN, FREEDOM RIDERS) doing Q & A after a screening of his great documentary 
Maryland Film Festival Blog 
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